Page 15 of Nita's Redemption

Chapter Five

TANK AND LINK SHIFTED back to human smoothly as they stood above on the outcropping near their females home. He nearly growled when he realized Abe had left them to go search for Nita, feeling a little betrayed by the other male for not staying back like they did. They’d agreed to give their female space, not go off and search her out alone. Hell, did the male think it was right for him to have some time alone with her before they’d solidified the bond between the four of them? The thought of Abe creating a bond that would be stronger than one he’d have with Nita tore through him. He hated the thought of being left behind. Abe and Link were twins, which made their connection stronger than any he would ever have with them, even though they both denied that truth.

“Yo, why are you growling and flexing as if you’re ready to tear someone’s head off, Tank?” Link asked, standing next to his best friend with his hands on his hips, his eyes flashing blue in worry.

“I’m worried about Nita and rogues. You know the fuckers who followed Seamus might have gotten away, which means there might be some sick wolves out there waiting to attack us or someone they feel is less strong in order to exact revenge for their alpha’s demise.” Tank had thought of that scenario many times, although he’d dismissed it just as quickly. However, it worked to detract Link from delving too deeply into his show of anger.

“Fuck, I never thought of that. Do you think there're some idiots who actually survived and slunk away during the cleansing of Seamus and his bullshit?” Link stared across the river where the depraved alpha had set up his camp.

Tank shrugged, not believing for a moment any of the bastards could’ve endured Zeus’s wrath and what had come down once the god had gotten involved. “To be honest, I can’t imagine anything that Zeus didn’t allow to live, to survive. Now, that doesn’t mean those fuckers couldn’t have escaped into some hole in the ground and found protection in Hell. You know Zeus’s daddy and the ruler of the fire realm sure do love to welcome those who don’t have any good in them. I think we can all agree there wasn’t a single bastard aside from Nita who had a shred of decency within their beings.”

Link inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling several times before speaking again. Tank appreciated the way his best friend took time to think about his words instead of talking off the cuff.

The sound of the leaves smacking against one another in the night breeze usually soothed his ragged soul. He could mark the hours with the distinct night sounds. Knowing which animals scurried about and when they were active, allowed him to memorize what was going on around him. Although the sounds were the same tonight, he didn’t find any comfort not when their female was out there and hadn’t accepted them yet. It was the yet that kept him from roaring out in denial.

“I agree with you. But, I have a question. What about Nita’s mama? Surely she wasn’t all bad?” Link asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Tank gave a nod. “I’ve thought of her as well. She clearly felt a pull toward Seamus and Jimmy. I’m not sure which is her father, to be honest. Jimmy seemed to have a very protective streak when it came to young Nita, but that could be because she was a child and female, while the rest of the pack was basically feral fucks. We can’t forget the reality of her mother choosing to come here of her own freewill. My guess is there was a mating pull, unless she was part of whatever those females who came looking for Nita were up to. In my opinion, they are bad news for all of us, especially Nita.”

Link strode to the edge of the hill overlooking their female’s home, sitting down with his legs pulled up and rested his arms on his knees. Tank followed suit, moving to sit next to the other male. They sat in companionable silence for some time, watching and waiting until movement to their left made them freeze.

‘I thought we were giving her space?’ Abe growled through their link.

‘Obviously we were, but you clearly didn’t follow that rule,’ Tank muttered, including Abe in the spiral path they had.

Abe grunted but didn’t deny the accusation.

The three of them sat watching Nita’s home, their thoughts swirling together through the path they’ve had since they were pups.

‘We are already pussy whooped by the female, and none of us have even kissed her yet,’ Link said with laughter ringing through his words.

Abe shifted slightly, drawing the two other males' attentions. “My wolf licked her,” he said.

“What the fuck?” Tank asked, his brawny chest expanded with an anger he shouldn’t be feeling, but he was damned if the emotion wasn’t almost all-consuming. He didn’t understand why he was so pissed at his best friend, who was more like a brother, for being close to their soon to be mate.

“Tank, we all know that there are going to be times that all of us will be alone with our mate. What’s got you so riled up?” Link asked, moving between Abe and him.

“Are you okay with him bonding with Nita before we all do? What if she accepts him and not the two of us?” Tank growled, his beast nearly feral at the images of Nita and Abe mating alone.

Abe shook his head. “I would never do that to the two of you or Nita. There is no way that we would be complete without the four of us. That doesn’t mean I want to kiss you, or touch you, Tank. However, I can feel the pull that is between the three of you. That same pull that links Nita and I is just as strong. For me to claim her without the two of you there claiming her would be an abomination to our mating.”

Tank let out a deep breath of relief. There was something trying to poison him and his relationship with the twins before they completed the mating. He took a step back, his inner beast searching for what was causing the turmoil roiling in him. “I know that, fuck,” he cursed.

“Shit, this isn’t good, brothers. We need to see Jaklyn and have her do a cleansing thing on us and see if she can tell if we’ve been tainted by those women and their voodoo shit.” Link held up his hands when Tank opened his mouth to deny anything could infect them.

Abe nodded his head. “That’s a good idea, but if they could’ve gotten to us, then what about Nita?”

They all stared toward her home, watching as lights were slowing going off as their female prepared for bed. Tank rubbed at his chest, hating the thought that someone or something could’ve infiltrated him. “Abe, do you feel any different? When you were with her and... licking her, did you have any odd sensations?”

Tank was proud he could say the words without wanting to rip Abe’s head off. Tank stared at him and then his brother, both of them watching Abe to see how he’d answer Tank’s question. Abe took a deep breath, pausing for a long moment while Tank kept his senses open.

As the seconds ticked by, Tank was sure the male would say nothing, making his beast twitchy.

“You know I didn’t, but then with everything you’ve said and the pull toward Nita that’s been a constant, there was something different once we left the restaurant. I don’t know how to put it into words. My wolf had a slight disconnect to Link. I thought it was normal for us since we’d found our female. I was sure that once we mated we would make a full circle. Now, in hindsight, I know that feeling wasn’t natural. Fuck me running. If those females could implant such a subtle command that me and my beast didn’t recognize it, we all need to be scrubbed.” Abe rubbed his hands over his face. His heart rate increased.

Tank gripped his shoulder, shocked when Abe’s beast growled at him. Tank lifted his hands, showing Abe he meant to harm. Although he wasn’t scared of Abe or anyone for that matter, there was a line he didn’t want to cross, which was getting into it with his best friends and brothers by another mother. “We cool, Abe?” Tank didn’t take his eyes off of Abe though, seeing the bright blue flash like his wolf is ready to burst out of the other male.

“I’m good. Fucking hell,” Abe whispered, bending over with his hands on his knees breathing like he’d run a 10k marathon.

---